Mr. Sear notes on the Certificate of Authenticity, received on March 5, 2005:
Grade: VF and a very scarce type, but with false patina which has been applied subsequent to extensive tooling
(this is probably responsible for the spelling error in the emperor's name, the clumsiness of the lettering behind
the emperor's head and the obliteration of the final two letters of the reverse legend.)

Follow-up note: The customer who purchased this piece from me does not agree with the Sear documentation with respect to the tooling.